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Toy donations needed to keep holiday magic alive

Phillip Bock, HTR Media
Published 8:29 p.m. CT Dec. 4, 2014

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Toys can be brought to area businesses and will be given to families in need for Christmas. (December 2014)

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Salvation Army volunteer Linda Schroeder organizes donated toys in the Salvation Army Toy Shop in Manitowoc. The items, donated by the community through Toys for Tots, will be given to less fortunate families and children in Manitowoc County.(Photo: Phillip Bock/HTR Media)Buy Photo

Donations to Toys for Tots are needed in Manitowoc County to give children less fortunate the experience and joy of opening gifts on Christmas morning.

"You get to see the light in your kids' eyes and how thankful they are for something," said Tasha Busalacchi, a single parent of three who was helped by the toy drive last year. "As a parent, it gives you a sense of ease knowing that the community is there to help you. Just because you go through these struggles, and times are hard, that you don't have to go through them alone. There is always someone to help you and, in the holiday season, they put a big smile on your heart."

Toys for Tots collection boxes were placed at area businesses just before Thanksgiving, and the toy collection drive continues through Christmas Eve. This year the Salvation Army, which collects and distributes the items, expects toys to be distributed to hundreds of Manitowoc County families.

"We service about 500 to 600 families. It's about 1,300 kids total," said Terri Olson, a lieutenant with the local Salvation Army.

According to Olson, the need for gifts and other assistance by area families has remained flat or increased in recent years — and more donations are needed to provide gifts for every child.

"We'd rather service less. If we service less, we know our community is doing better financially," Olson said. "These numbers that continue to go up is not a good thing. It just means that more people in Manitowoc County are in need of help."

What's needed?

Items collected from area Toys for Tots boxes are sorted and placed in the Salvation Army "toy shop," where parents in need can choose gifts for their children. Each child gets a large and small gift — and if the Salvation Army has enough stock, each family also is given a board game and warm blanket. Stocking stuffers, such as toothpaste or other small items, also are given out.

"The big gift is about $25 (value) and then (the child) gets a smaller gift," Olson said. "Then they get stocking stuffers, a board game for the family and a blanket for the family. Several of our families don't have heat, so we try and provide a blanket for each family."

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Terri Olson, a lieutenant in the Salvation Army, and Heather Garrington, Salvation Army Christmas coordinator, stand among donated toys in the Salvation Army Toy Shop. The Toy Shop provides toys and other gifts to Manitowoc County families in need.(Photo: Phillip Bock/HTR Media)

Olson said they also try to provide a pair of socks and underwear to every child, but are often unable to meet that goal due to a lack of supply. In addition to toys, the Salvation Army could use additional blankets, board games, stocking stuffers, children's books and stuffed animals.

"To be honest, there is nothing I am not in need of right now," Olson said. "It may look like we have a lot of toys here, but we don't at all. What we have right now, I would be in real trouble if more doesn't come in."

The Salvation Army also is nearly out of gift cards that are typically given to teenagers.

"Teens is a very hard age group to get gifts for," Olson said. "I'm in desperate need of gift cards from (various stores) any of those stores that a teen would shop at. With teens, we give a lot of gift cards out, but right now I have almost none."

Families in need

The Salvation Army began registering families in October and November for participation in the toy shop program. The "shop" opens to registered families in mid-December.

"Someone asked me yesterday if I felt like Mrs. Claus," Olson said. "My husband and I do feel a little bit like that, because it is so important to us that the children of Manitowoc County be taken care of. That's what this is all about: taking care of the kids."

It is too late for families to register for the toy shop this year, but families can still sign up to come to the store on Dec. 18 if stock is left over. For more information, or to sign up, call the Salvation Army at (920) 684-7117.

Last year, Busalacchi said she was "overwhelmed' by the community support for the program.

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Various balls and sporting memorabilia wait to be claimed in the Salvation Army Toy Shop in Manitowoc County. The items are donated by the community through Toys for Tots.(Photo: Phillip Bock/HTR Media)

"When you are lower poverty and have three children, and are a single parent, it kind of makes for a struggle sometimes," she said. "Christmas, to children, is this big glorious thing. They don't understand, especially younger ones, that parents can't always afford these things. As children they have high hopes and, as a parent, it makes it a struggle," she said. "It's overpowering to see how the community does interact and want to help. It's a great sigh of relief."

Last year Busalacchi said her children were "overjoyed" by the presents under the tree — presents delivered by the Santas of Manitowoc County.

"It's one of those things where they don't realize it is coming from us as parents; they think it is Santa," she said. "That little bit makes so much of a differences. A couple presents for each child is more than some children even get."

Phillip Bock: (920) 686-2966 or pbock@htrnews.com

Looking to donate to Toys for Tots? Drop off items at any of these area businesses: